Midfielder happy to be home again

Midfielder Danny Patterson has told Ossett Town's fans he wishes he'd never left the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League club.

The 31-year-old signed on for his third spell with the First Division North club this week in time for Tuesday's 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Mossley.

Patterson, pictured, followed former manager Craig Elliott out of Ingfield at the start of the year to Shaw Lane Aquaforce in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

Patterson said: "I’m delighted to be back at Ossett Town, it is a club I should never have left if I am being honest. I’ve had a number off offers over the past week from sides in both the Evo-Stik and NCEL but Ossett Town were the first club in for me and that meant a lot given how I left in February with the previous manager to go to Shawlane. I’m just happy to be back.

"The league is probably as strong as it's been in many years but I see no reason why we can't go on the kind of runs we went on last year and then see where that takes us. The league also looks very open with everyone beating everyone."

Before returning, Patterson hadn't met manager John Reed or his assistant Clive Freeman and he added: "I have heard a lot of good thinks about the Gaffer and Clive from a number of players and was instantly impressed when John Reed called me on Saturday, their record at other clubs speaks for itself.

Reed is delighted to bring Patterson, brother of Town player Richard, back to the club and believes he'll add more steel and experience to his young squad.

Reed said: "Danny’s a very popular player and his reputation goes before him. Once it became clear he was looking for a new challenge I did not hesitate putting seven days in on him."

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